Sheet-feeding machine.



E. T- CAMPBELL. SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1916.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

0m III H mm M GIN" b F MN 6? WITNESS 5 A Y Ma m LB e m% E. T. CAMPBELL.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. 1916.

1,216,778. Patented Feb. 20,1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2. v I $1 $0 i v II v I -I :3 o 9 I 1 Q l g \q rr l I L18 \v [NI/E/VTOR 2 57m TOIMPb ATTORNEYJ 5. T. CAMPBELL.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILI-ID JULY 24, I9I6.

Patented Feb. 20,1912

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. T. CAMPBELL.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1916.

1,216,773. I Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

v v WIT/V588 k) l/Vl/E/VTOR R ffi/PL TQ P/BELL A TTOR/VE Y5 E. T. CAMPBELL.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1916.

- 1,216373. Patented Feb. 20,1917.

I279. 7 8 s SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESS j l Ema T69/7P5ELL I ATTORNEYS stacks, as they have been taken from the EARL'T. CAMPBELL, or ELWOOI), 'INDIANA.

SHEET-FEEDING Macrame.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 1917;

Applihation filed July 24,1916. Serial No. 110,940.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARLT. CAMPBE L, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Elwood, county of Madison, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Sheet-Feeding Machine and I do'hereby. declare that thefollowingv is a full, clear, and exact description there of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts. g

This invention relates to improved pneumatic means for feeding sheets of metal and the like singly from a stack to \any machine or device to which it is desired to feed them.

The invention has been made for use par tlc ularly in'tin plate factories where it is desired to so'feed the black plates from water'bath by the tinner, singly to the tinning machine.

Onefeature of the invention consists of the suction or pneumatic construction for .picking up the top sheet of a stack and conveying it to the rolls whereby it is fed into the timing machine. The frame which carries the suction head also carries the pump and said pump is operated by its movement with said frame so that there is close association and cooperation of the sue-'1 tion frame and pump. This enablesan ordinary bicycle pump tobe usled, the plunger of the pump being reversed and stationary or if desired connected with the sha'ftwhich causes the travel of thesiletign frame. The

result is a very simple construction and one which operates in the most'' desirable .man-' ner. Another feature of the'invention is the combination with the frame carrying the suction head and pump, of-means forgiving the same a substantially horizontal movement, and tracks over vhich said frame is adaptedto travel for moving the sheet. from the stack to the feed rolls.

Still another feature of sists of means actuated by saidsuction frame near the end of its advancing movement for separating the feed rolls or lifting the upper feed roll so that the plate will readily enter between the feed rolls. v

Still another featl re of the invention consist's; in means resting upon the stack of theinvention consheets of black plates for stopping or limit ing the rearward or return movement of the suction frame and suction head, so that the suction head'will be applied to the top sheet near its front end.

Still another feature of the invention con I sists in the combination with the suction head and stop plates, of weighted means resting upon the top sheet to the rear of the suction head for holding the top sheet at that point down, while the front end of it is being lifted by the suction head, in order to facilitate the separation of the top sheet from the sheets below in the stack, as the top sheet adheres with considerable force to the sheet below it. 1

, Another feature of the inventlon consists in a dividing or switch means operated by the suction frame near the end of its advance movement for deflecting the sheets of black plate in their feeding movement so as to send them to different tinning rolls. Thus, in some machines they have a double deck. of tinning rolls and with this apparatus'every other plate will be fed to the fed to the upper set of rolls.

Still another feature of the invention consists in means actuated and controlled by the means for operating the suction frame'for lower set of rolls and the alternate plates feeding or elevating the stack of sheets or .plates as the topsheets are being fed therefrom .so that when the suction headireturns after each operation, the top sheet of the stack will be at the same elevation as the top sheet previously removed. A filler plate is provided in the suction head whereby. the

air space is reduced to a very small space so, that a vacuum is produce immediately upon the movement of the frame, This prevents the suction head from releasing the plate before the air is withdrawn and a suflicient vacuum is produced.

ings and the following-- description and claims: v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is'a side eleva-' tion of the 'machine, with the pneumatic feeding means partially operated .so that the forward endof the top sheet has been separated and elevated from the feed below.

' The full nature of the invent on will be understood from the accompanying draw Fig. 2 is a .plan view of the machinewith the parts in idle position or in the'position before or at the beginning of an operation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the machine on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing in addition, however, a sheet or plate passing through. the feed rolls after the return 'of the pneumatic feeding means.

Fig. 4 is a reproduction of portions of Fig. 3 showing the position of the parts when the suction frame has reached its advanced position and the sheet or plate has been placed between the feed rolls so that a further movement of the pump will release the suction-head and return the suction frame, and the divider being elevated so' that'the feed rolls will feed thesheet to a lower set of 'set of tinning rolls, while Fig, 5 shows'the parts in their position when the divider isdown so as to deflect the plates to the upper,

set of tinning rolls. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through a portion of the machine,

as shown in Fig. 2, illustrating the mounting ofone end of the upper feed shaft, the

, remaining parts being broken away. Fig. 7

is a vertical section on the line 77 of Fig.

1, through the upper portion of the machine.-

Fig. 8 is a reproduction of the right-hand end .of what isshown in Fig. 4 with some \parts in section'to illustrate the position of l-{idle position. Fig.10 shows thesame when the parts when the suction head releases its hold on the sheet or plate being fed forward to the feed rolls. Fig. 9 is a vertical central section through the suction head in j under suction. 1

1 There is shown herein only a part of the framework of the machine, as it is immaterial just howfthe framework is constructed.

.111. fact',,there is shown .hereiri two frames t 10 and 110"which, however, are mounted in fixed relation to eachother. The frame 10 carries a crank shaft 11 driven bya pulley 12"and belt 13' coining from some suitable source of ower. There isals'o mounted in one side 0 said frame apulley 14 driven by a belt-.15 running over cone pulleys 16 and 17, whereby power is transmitted from the pulley 12 to the pulley 14 and power is transmitted from the pulley 14 through a belt 18,

shown by dotted lines in. Fig. 3, to a pulley 19 on a shaft 20 which is mounted in the.

other "frame 110 and whereby the feed rolls are, "driven, one .feed roll- 21 being secured on said shaft 20and the other feed roll 22 shown mountedabove it on a shaft 23.

The workof this machine is to feed the feed rolls 21 and 22 so that said feed rolls can feed such sheet or plateto some other device, as in tin plate factories to the tinning rolls. The stack of plates is carried on a table 26 and by means hereafter described maintained so that the top plate will b on a level with a stationary plate or ta le 2'3 which leads from the stack of plates to the feed rolls. This plate 27 has a lip or flange 28 extendingupwardly from the end next to the stack to a level slightlyhigher than the top'sheet 'of the stack. There are also rollers 29 carried by said plate 27 near the stack-and the top sheet is picked up near its front endand dragged, over the rollers 29 and inserted between the feed rolls 21 and 22, as shown in Fig. 4. To accomplish this result, therefore, it is necessary first to separate the top sheet from the sheet below it; "second, to elevate the advancing end of said sheet so that it will pass over the lip 28 and the rollers 29; and third, drag it or move it to the feed rolls.

The means for accomplishing the foregoing consistsof a suction head 30 adapted to engage and pick up the forward end of the top plate and transfer ity to the feed rolls. This suction .head is formed, as shown in Fig. 9, of'a cylindrical filler 31 covered by a metal sheet plate to which a flexible suction tube 32 is connected by a coupling 33 The metal plate covering has a laterally extending and downwardly sloping flange on which a rubber ring 34 is held by theclamping means 35. When air is'exhausted from the suction head, it will be dropped down close to the plate, as shown in Fig. .10, and'the rubber ring 34 caused to adhere tightly to the plate.

On the suction head 3O -there' are two ears 36, seen in Fig. 7, through which a rod 37 extends transversely of'the machine. Said rod is carried in and is a part of the suction frame 38. This frame is composed of two vertical. bars connected by a horizontal bar at the upper end so that the frame is rectangular. An arm 39 extends centrally from the upper end of said frame and has an eye at its upper end through which a stop rod 40 extends which is pivoted at one end to the crank shaft 11 and at its other end has a head or stop 41 thereon, see Fig. 8.

Said suction frame is pivoted or suspended near its upper end on a transverse rod 42, as seen in Fig. 7, and a pair of actuating bars 43, see Fig.2, are pivoted at their front ends to the .rodl42 and at theirrear ends to the cranks 44 of the crank shaft 11 sothat as'said crank shaftis rotated, the

cranksthereof through, the bars 43 willforce the rod 42 and the suction head carried by it from the rearmost or retracted position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to the positions and return said suction head. I

The rod 42 has'onits ends wheels or. roll-".-

e-rs 45 arranged so as to travel-on the'tracks or guideways '46. of which there is a pair,

' as shown in Fig. andmounted in connection-with the frame 110, as shown in Fig. 3. These tracks are first inclined upwardly in order to elevate the suction head and Sheet to separate the sheet from the stack and."

carry it overthe, rollers'29 and then the tracks are inclined downwardly to'bring the sheet i'ntoposition between feed rolls 21 and 22. y

. The suctionlis g'created-by an" ordinary bicycle pump consisting of a cylinder -50 carried at its forward end by the .rod 42, as

shown .in Fig. 7 ,f in the suction frame,,and at that end connected with the suction tube .32. The other end of the cylinder 50 is open having on it a spider 52 through which the rod 53 of a piston or plunger 54 operates.

Said rod is connected'with a yoke-shaped frame 55 which is pivotedon th'elcrank shaft 11, as seen 'inFig. *2. With this ar rangement, the piston .54 alwaysrremains statlonary, whilethe cylinder. is" moved longitudinally by the suction frame 'as'it travf. els from the position shown in Fig. 3 .to

that shown in Fig. 8. In other word's, suction action commences as soonas the cranks 44cm the crank shaft begin to turn downward from their rearward poa'tion, shown in. Fig. 2, and as soon 9 the suction frame begins to move forwar the s ction action commences. Since the salt v in Fig. 3, is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the rod 37, theuppe'r end of, s'aid frame moves or oscillates, while the lower end and suction head are stationary and this continues. until the suction frame begins to.

travel up on the brackets 46, as shown in Fig.1, and then the sucti 11 frame Wlll elev'ate the suction head an will elevate the forward end of thetop sheet or plate from the stack, as shown in Flg. 1. Hence, with this arrangement, thereis sufficient movement of the upper part of the suction frame to .cause the pump to "operatelong enough to create the necessary suction to enable the suction'head to grasp and hold the top plate and before there-is any verti-' cal movement of the-suction head.

v When the suction frame has been advancedto-the position shown in Fi'gxB, the. pump cylinder 50 will have traveled sofar to the right that the piston 54 will have passed a port orhole 56 in said cylinder which will admit airinto the cylinder and. suction tube 32 and the suction head and cause the latter to release. the sheet or plate. Then the suctionframe is returned.

- When the suction frame approaches the end of its advancing movementto the posi;

shown in Figs.'-'1,. 4 and 8 successively,

lon frame, as seen the suction head tion shown in Fig. 4, it will engage thearms or levers 60 secured ona shaft 61 mounted in the frame 110, see Figs-4 and 7. 'Two short arms 62 are securedon the shaft 61,

as seen in Fig. 4, and to them vertical rods 63 are pivoted at'their upper ends. .Said

rods 63 at their lower ends. are connected with=a bearing 64 for the ends of-thegupper Figs. 6 and 7 This will elevate the upperfeed rolls from the lower feed rolls, as seen \feed roll shaft 23, which earing is ver-"T tically slidable in a bracket or frame 65, see

in Fi s. 4 and 8, and permit the advancing,"

end 0 the sheet to pass between said rolls.

When the suction frame 38'is returned .tothe positionshown 'in Fig. 3, its lower end is stopped bytwo vertical plates 70, see Figs. .3 and 7, which. engage: the trans versely extending rod 37 connected with said a suction frame and thus cause thesucti'on .head to rest upon the top plate near the front end thereof. These plates are se'-.

forward andare pivoted at 74 in the opposite side of the frame 110. Said rod 71 is. -.weighted by. a weight 75 between its ends" cured on a transverse rod 71, see Fig. 2, carried in the "ends of rods -73 which extend and at each end carries a roller 76. ;The

1. This arrangement-is to facilitate the sep- 510 I .aration of the top sheet from the sheet below," I:

as theystrengly adhere together when in the stack. I

The. means which causes the feeding of I the top sheet from the stack to the feed rolls also causes or actuates the means for elevating the stack to maintain the top sheet on a proper level for the successful opera-I tionbf the suction head. The table 26 which carries a stack is supported on twodisk's 160 on the upper ends of screwrods 161 on 1 which worm wheels 162 are adjustably secured in proximity to each otherso that both I worm wheels will be driven by a conical worm shaft 163. A. frame 164 furnishes 1 bearings ,165yfor the screw rods l6l and the work wheels 162 and also for the worm shaft lever .68 fulcrumed concentric with. the

163, see Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the." :worm shaft 163 is actuated by aratchet wheel 66 secured thereon andjapawl 67 on a ratchet wheel and given a" step by step' movementby a/rod 69 extending therefrom and adj ustably secured in a slot 170- inan arm 171 secured on the outer .end of the crank shaft 11. I As-sald arm. 1 71 revolves-- in the direction of the arrow inFig: 1, the ratchet wheel 1 given a. partial rotation so that it causes an .elevation of the screw rods 161 and table 26 equal to the thickness of one sheet or plate 25 in the stack.

For dividing the shee 91. plates as they leave the feeding mechani m so as'to deliver them'alternately to the lower or upper set of tinning rolls, the following mechanism is provided. On an extension 80 to the frame 110 thereis a. shaft81, see Fig. 2, having secured on it dividing arms 82 triangular in shape and with the apex projecting toward the bite of the feed rolls. on the outer end of said shaft 81 there is a'crank arm 83,

see Figs. 1, 2 and 5. It is limited in its downward movement, by a stop 84, as shown I 110. Said bar is actuated by a connecting bar 90 extending therefrom up to an arm 91 on the shaft 61, like the arm 62, see Fig. 4.

When the bar 88 is moved upward, it actuates the ratchet wheel 86 and tosaid ratchet wheel a bar 92 is diametrically secured carrying pins 93 near the ends thereof in position to engage the free end "of the arm 88 and elevate and actuate it from the position shown in Fig.'5rto the position shown in Fig. 1, and-that moves the dividing arms 82 from the position shown in Fig.- 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, and then the sheets or plates will be fed by the feed rolls to thelower set of tinning rolls. The actuating means just described is so arranged as to switch said'dividing arms 82 from one positi'on to the other as each sheet or plate'approaches the same so that they will be alternately delivered to the upper and lower J sets of tinning rolls. The frame 110 has a pawl 94 pivoted thereon in p 'sition to en- "gage the ratchet wheel 86 -an 7 prevent its backward movement.

The invention claimed is:

1. A sheet feedingmachine including a suction head, a'suction frame for carrying said head in position to engage and move a sheet, suction means carried by said frame and in communication with the suction head and stationary means withwhich said suctionmeans is connected arranged so that the movement of the suction frame causes the operation thereof.

2. A sheet feeding machine including a suction head, a suction frame for carrying said head in position to engage and move a sheet, a suction pump carried by said frame and in communlcation wlth the suctlon head, and stationary means with which said pump is connected arranged so that the movement of the suction frame causes the operation of thepump.

3. A sheet feeding machine including a suction head, a frame for-carrying said head so as to engage and move a sheet, a suction pump carried by said frame and operated by the movement thereof in communication with the suction head, a crank shaft,

' and means driven by said shaft for causing the movement of said suction frame.

4. Asheet feeding machine including a suction head, a frame for carryingsaid head so as to engage and move a sheet, a pump cylinder mounted in said suction frame in communication with the suction head a piston in said cylinder adapted to be held in a relatively fixed position, .a crank shaft, and meansdriven by said shaft for causing the movement of said suction frame.

5. 'A sheet feeding machine including a suction head, a frame for carrying said head so as to engage and move a sheet, a pump cylinder mounted in said suction frame in communication with the suction head, a pis-f ton in said cylinder adapted to be held in a relatively fixed position, a crankshaft, and

means driven by said shaft for causing the movement of said suction frame,'said pump cylinder being provided with an opening new thelimit' of the forward movement of said suction frame for admission of air into the pump to cause the suction'head to release the sheet. 1

6. A sheet feeding machine'including a suction head, a. frame for carrying saidhead so as to e'ngageand: movea-sh'eet, a pump cylinder mounted in said suction frame in communication with thesuction head, a piston in said cylinder adapted to be held in a relatively fixed position, a crank shaft, and bars pivoted on the cranks of the crank shaft and pivotally connected with the sides of said suction frame for actuating the latter. s

7. A sheet feeding machine including a suction head, a frame for carrying said head so as, to engage and move a sheet, a pump. cylinder mountedin said suction frame in communication with thesuction head, a piston in said cylinder adaptedto be held in a relatively fixed position, a crank shaft, means driven by said shaft for causing the movement of said suction frame, and means for limiting the advancing movement of the upper end of said suction frame.

8. A sheet feeding machine including a suction head, a frame for carrying said head so as to engage and move a sheet, a pump cylinder mounted insaid suction frameiin communication with the suction head, .a piston in said cylinder adapted to be held'in a relatively fixed position, a crank shaft,

means driven by said shaft for causing the movement of said suction frame, an upward extension from the suction frame having an eye in its upper end, a rod pivoted to the crank shaft and extending through said eye, and a stop on the outer end of said rod for limiting the advancing movement of said extension from the suction frame.

9. A sheet feedingmachine including a suction head, a suction frame carrying said head, suction creating means carried by said frame and in communication with the suction head and adapted to be operated by the movement of said frame, means for moving said frame, and inclined tracks on WlllClI 'said frame'travels arranged to elevate said frame and suction head to enable the latter .to lift the top sheet from a stack of sheets wardly inclined to lift the suction head and the sheet attached thereto.

11. A sheet feeding machine including'a suction head, a frame for carrying the same, means for causing the travel of said frame after the sheet has been engaged by the suction head for conveying the sheet as desuction head, a frame for carrying the same,

means for causing the travel of said frame after the sheet has been engaged by the suction head for conveying the sheet as desired, means resting upon the next sheet to be conveyed and in position to engage and stop the return movement of'said suction frame so as to place the suction head near the end of a sheet, and weighted means on said sheet to the rear of the suction head for holding said rear )ortion of the sheet down while the forwar end of the sheet is being elevated by the suction head. I I

13. A sheet feeding machine including a frame, a table on which a stack of sheets may be placed adjacent said frame, a suction head,"a suction frame for carrying said head and placing the same on the top sheet of a stack, means for moving said suction frame after the suction head has grasped the top sheet of the stack, a rod extending transversely of the stack with forwardly ex tending means pivoted to said frame, rollers on said-rod for resting upon the-top sheet of the stack to the rear of the suction head, and vertically dispo'sed'plates on said rod and resting upon the top sheet of the stack in position to engage the suction frame on its return movement and stop the suction head on the forward part of the top sheet-of the stack.

14. A sheet feeding machine including a main frame, a suction head, a'suction frame carrying the suction head, a crank shaft,

means actuated by the crank shaftto 0p'- erate the suction frame, a table for holding a stack of plates in position for the top plates to be picked up and transferred by the suction head, vertically movable rods for supporting said table, worm gears for actuating saidrods, a worm shaft for actuating said gears, a pawl and ratchet drive for actuating said Worm shaft, and means driven by the crank shaft for operating the pawl" and ratchet drive, said means being geared and arranged so that the table will be moved upwardly as the sheets are fed therefrom so that the top sheet'of the stack of sheets wil always beat uniform height. P 15. A sheet feeding machine including a frame, a pair of feed rolls for feeding the:

sheets to any suitable mechanism, the upper feed roll being vertically movable, a lever and connecting rod for vertically moving said roll, a suction head for engaging and. transferring a sheet to said rolls, a'suction frame carrying said suction head and means for actuating said suction frame carrying said suction head, so that it will, near thelimit of its movement, engage said lever and elevate the upper feed roll so that the plate beingfed can enter between the feed rolls.

16. A sheet feeding machine including a frame, a pair of feed rolls mounted. in the frame, means for feeding sheets to said feed rolls, horizontally disposeddividing fingers fulcrumed in theframe in position when turned downwardto cause a sheet to pass above said fingers and when'elevated to permit the sheet to pass below the fingers, and means actuated by the sheet feeding means for alternately elevating and lowering said dividing fingers.

17. A sheet feeding machine including a frame, a pair of feed rolls mounted therein, means for feeding sheets successively to the feed rolls, a horizontal shaft mounted in advance of the rolls, dividing fingerssecured on said shaft and extending towardposition to engage said fingers and permit fixed my signature in the presence of the a sheet to pass below the dividing fingers, Witnesses herein named.

and a spring for turning said shaft and di- EARL T CAMPBELL viding fingers to their downward position 1 5 so that the sheet will pass above said divid- Witnesses:

ing fingers. v LoTTm CAMPBELL, In witness whereof, I have hereunto af- W. R. GOLDSMITH. 

